Alaska Baseball League cancels upcoming summer season

Updated
9:57 pm CDT, Saturday, May 23, 2020

FILE - In this June 21, 2006, file photo, Beatrice Bruins' Travis Tucker takes his turn at bat during the fifth inning of the Midnight Sun game between the Bruins and the Alaska Goldpanners in Fairbanks, Alaska. The Alaska Baseball League has canceled its summer season, as the future of sports worldwide remains uncertain during the coronavirus pandemic. The league website says this season will be canceled to keep everyone safe from exposure to COVID-19. less

FILE - In this June 21, 2006, file photo, Beatrice Bruins' Travis Tucker takes his turn at bat during the fifth inning of the Midnight Sun game between the Bruins and the Alaska Goldpanners in Fairbanks, ... more

Photo: Nora Gruner, AP

Photo: Nora Gruner, AP

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FILE - In this June 21, 2006, file photo, Beatrice Bruins' Travis Tucker takes his turn at bat during the fifth inning of the Midnight Sun game between the Bruins and the Alaska Goldpanners in Fairbanks, Alaska. The Alaska Baseball League has canceled its summer season, as the future of sports worldwide remains uncertain during the coronavirus pandemic. The league website says this season will be canceled to keep everyone safe from exposure to COVID-19. less

FILE - In this June 21, 2006, file photo, Beatrice Bruins' Travis Tucker takes his turn at bat during the fifth inning of the Midnight Sun game between the Bruins and the Alaska Goldpanners in Fairbanks, ... more

Photo: Nora Gruner, AP

Alaska Baseball League cancels upcoming summer season

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Baseball League has canceled its summer season, as the future of sports worldwide remains uncertain during the coronavirus pandemic.

“To operate this summer without the ability to keep all involved safe from exposure to the COVID-19 virus, we as a league have decided not to proceed this summer,” the league website reads.

The summer league season was scheduled to begin on June 29.

The five-team league is made up of college players from mostly the Lower 48 but also from places as far away as Taiwan. If competition resumed on time, travel and housing would have been a logistical challenge during the seven weeks of play, KTVA-TV reported.

The Mat-Su Miners proposed a short season in July and other teams have also expressed their desire to compete, officials said. League teams are expected to contact state and local governments about the plan.

Even Major League Baseball is trying to formulate a plan to get its players back on the field.

The Alaska Baseball League was founded in 1969 with five teams: the Anchorage Bucs, Anchorage Glacier Pilots, Chugiak Chinooks, Mat-Su Miners and Peninsula Oilers.